Osimhen: King Of FIFA U17 W/Cup Top Scorers

Following his outstanding display at the just concluded 2015 FIFA U-17 World Cup in Chile, Nigeria's Victor Osimhen emerges as the all-tiime highest goal scorer of the tournament.

Osimhen, while taking pride of a place among some of the top marksmen who have lit up the tournament with goals, has set a new record of 10 goal scored by one player in a single FIFA U17 World Cup tournament.

‎Completesportsnigeria.com's JAMES AGBEREBI takes you down the memory lane of the cadet World Cup, taking a look at the past top scorers and the impact their goals had on their respective team's performances.

VICTOR OSIMHEN (Nigeria) : 10 Goals – Chile 2015

The Golden Eaglets won their fifth U-17 World Cup title after defeating Mali 2-0 in Sunday's final. One of the main character s who contributed to the team's success is Victor Osimhen.

The lanky forward scored scored 10 goals, breaking the record ealier held by the duo of Florent Sinama-Pongolle(France) and Soulyemane Coulibaly(Cote d'Ivoire) who recorded nine goals apiece. Osimhen also became the first player to score in every single game enroute to winning the tournament.‎The new king of goal kings!

VALMIR BERISHA (Sweden): 7 Goals – UAE 2013

Sweden made their first ever appearance at the U-17 World Cup at the 2013 U-17 World Cup in the UAE, and played their way to the last four before losing to eventual winners Nigeria.
The Swedes' run to the semi-final was not unconnected to the goal-scoring prowess of Valmir Berisha, who notched up seven goals to win the adidas Golden Boot.

SOULEYMANE COULIBALY (Cote d'Ivoire): 9 Goals – Mexico 2011

Souleymane Coulibaly became the second player after Florent Sinama-Pongolle, to score nine goals in a single tournament at the U-17 World Cup.

The Cote d'Ivoire scored 10 goals at the 2011 U-17 World Cup with Coulibaly accounting for nine of the goals. But his goals wasn't enough to see them progress beyond the round of 16 following a 3-2 loss to France.

BORJA‎ GONZALEZ (Spain): 5 Goals – Nigeria 2009:

Just like Cesc Fabregas in 2003, Borja González finished as top scorer of the 2009 FIFA U-17 World Cup in Nigeria with five goals.

Thanks to the impact of Borja's goals, Spain went all the way to the semi-final before succumbing 3-1 to a rampant Golden Eaglets side, eventually finishing third.

MACAULEY CHRISANTUS (Nigeria): 7 Goals – South Korea 2007

After Japan 1993 where Wilson Oruma picked up the golden boot award, Nigeria had to wait till the 2007 edition in South Korea, where Macauley Chrisantus won the award.

Chrisantus scored seven of Nigeria's 16 goals, helping them secure their third U-17 World Cup title. The AEK Athens striker was also awarded with the adidas Silver Ball.

CARLOS VELA (Mexico): 5 Goals – Peru 2005

Carlos Vela was one of the star performers of the 2005 FIFA U-17 World Championship, held in Peru, where he helped Mexico to title-success. He was a pivotal figure in the final against Brazil as Mexico triumphed 3–0.
The former Arsenal, Celta Vigo and West Brom forward, subsequently finished top scorer with five goals, claiming the Adidas Golden Boot.

CESC FABREGAS (Spain): 5 Goals – Finland 2003:

Currently with struggling English Premier League champions Chelsea, Cesc Fabregas finished as top scorer at the 2003 FIFA U-17 World Championship held in Finland, despite playing in midfield. He was also voted Player of the Tournament.

Fabregas struck five times, as Spain went all the way to the final only to succumbed to a 1-0 defeat to Brazil.

FLORENT SINAMA-PONGOLLE (France): 9 Goals – Trinidad & Tobago 2001

Aside receiving the adidas Golden Ball award, Florent Sinama-Pongolle also picked the adidas Golden Shoe after becoming the first player to score nine goals in a single tournament.

And to cap an eventful tournament, France were crowned champions for the very first time, thanks in no small part to Sinama-Pongolle's goals.

ISHMAEL ADDO (Ghana): 7 Goals – New Zealand 1999

Ishmael Addo spent most of his career at Accra Hearts of Oak Sporting Club, but also had spells in France, Israel, Greece, Cyprus and India.

But it was at the 1999 edition of the FIFA U-17 World Cup that Addo came to limelight after emerging as the highest goal scorer with seven goals. His goals also help catapult Ghana to a third place finish.

DAVID RODRIGUEZ-FRAILE (Spain): 7 Goals – Egypt 1997

Spanish attacking duo Sergio Santamaría and David Rodriguez-Fraile were constant thorns in the side of oppositions' defences at the 1997 FIFA U-17 World Cup in Egypt. While Sergio picked up the Most Valuable Player award, David finished the tournament as top marksman with seven strikes.

David's goals were instrumental to Spain's advancement in the tournament, helping them get to the semi-final. They won the third-place play-off after beating Germany.

DANIEL ALLSOPP (Australia): 5 Goals – Ecuador 1995

Australia's Daniel Allsopp made his name in the under-17 World Championship, in Ecuador 1995 where he was awarded top scorer after netting five goals.
Allsopp's scored four goals in the group stage, which helped Australia progress into the quarter-final. But despite scoring against Brazil in the knockout, his fifth of the tournament, they still crashed out, losing 3-1.

WILSON ORUMA (Nigeria): 6 Goals – Japan 1993

Wilson Oruma holds the distinguish record as the first ever Nigerian to finish top scorer at the FIFA U-17 World Cup. This achievement came in the 1993 edition of the competition where Oruma scored six goals.

The goals proved vital, as the Eaglets were crowned champions for the second time, after defeating Ghana 2-1 in an all Africa final.

ADRIANO GERLIN DA SILVA (Brazil) 4 Goals – Italy 1991

Brazil were ruthless in the group stage of the 1991 FIFA U-17 World Cup in Spain. The young Selecao scored seven goals without conceding a single goal. And among these seven goals scored, four came off the boots of Adriano Gerlin da Silva.
Unfortunately, Adriano couldn't wield his goal magic in the quarter-final against eventual winners Ghana, who won 2-1. But the young striker's consolation was the adidas Golden Boot.

FODE CAMARA (Guinea): 3 Goals – Scotland 1989

After making a memorable debut at the maiden edition of the FIFA U-17 World Cup in 1985 where they finished fourth, Guinea qualified for their second appearance in Scotland 1989. In their ranks was a certain Fode Camara who emerged the top scorer of the tournament.

Unlike in 1985 where they made it all the way to the semi-final, Camara's three goals were not enough to take Guinea out of the group stage.

MOUSSA TRAORE (Cote d'Ivoire): 5 Goals – Canada 1987

As is so often the case at the U-17 World Cup, Côte d'Ivoire were the surprise package of the U-17 World Cup held in Canada. Playing intelligent football based around a 4-3-3 formation, giving free rein to some excellent individual talents, among which included Moussa Traore who was the standout performer in the team.

Cote d'Ivoire made it to the semi-final and eventually finished third thanks to Traore who netted five goals and earned the highest goal scorer award.

‎MARCEL WITECZEK (Germany): 8 Goals – China 1985

Born in Tychy, Silesia, Poland, Marcel Witeczek moved to Germany as an infant. He was a successful youth player in his country of adoption, where he represented them at both the China 1985 U-17 and Chile 1987 U-20 World Cup.

But it was at the U-17 World Cup that Witeczek shot to prominence, where he emerged the highest goal scorer of the tournament with eight goals. His goals helped West Germany all the way to the final but wasn't enough to win the tournament, following their 2-0 loss to Nigeria.